Craig warns Mago he’s going to Disneyland
Sto impress promotion chiefs after suffering back-to-back defeats last year. But with the aim of taking his two daughters on a dream holiday to Disneyland spurring him on, Craig insists he is prepared to go all the way to secure a fresh deal.
“Ankalaev is good at boxing, good at wrestling and I’m assuming he has some kind of sambo background,” he said. “But everybody is in the UFC is good at something. There’s nobody who is rubbish.
“We’re all on a level. It’s just about who turns up on the night and is ready to give it all. I don’t believe he is ready to give it all. He’s just signed for the UFC while I’m on my last fight of my contract.
“I’m fighting for something – to remain in the UFC. I’m fighting for the passion of taking my kids away to Disneyland, which is one of my goals.
“That will force me to go up a level. This is all or nothing.
“I hear people saying you will have to kill me to get me out of the octagon and that’s exactly how it’s going to be. Unless I’m as stiff as a surfboard you’re not moving me.”
Last year did not go as Craig hoped as he suffered his first UFC loss against Tyson Pedro in Las Vegas.
The former teacher hoped to atone for that March set-back in front of his home support when the UFC visited Glasgow four months later. But again there was only disappointment as Khalil Rountree dished out a first-round stoppage.
This time as he prepares to make his London trip, Craig thinks the lack of home comforts will ensure he gets 2018 off to a better start.
“It’s a new year, new me,” he said. “Last year was great in terms of travelling and new experiences – but it was horrible in terms of fighting.
“The Vegas loss played on my mind leading into Glasgow. Usually before a fight I’d spent maybe 10 days away from the family getting into fight mode.”